A Brief History
At the dawn of the new year I ambitiously pushed my campaign to its limits. I gave out 24 Faction leaders to people I knew with which they could submit weekly orders as they competed with each other for control of the Duchy of Sav’Mon. There were many struggles and hardships, but at the end of the 9 weeks I had a much greater understanding of how to achieve this. You can find much more detailed breakdowns in the sessions reports on this Substack.
This endeavor failed for 3 major reasons:
Move to Online - Due to life circumstances, combined with excitement for the domain game, the in person adventuring collapsed. I have spent the last 2 months rebuilding weekly sessions on the Ghost Planet Games Discord servers and if players would remember they need to post what they want to do in the session before it starts we have that up and running now.
Player attrition - We lost 5 players, one of them was killed, so really 4. That is not that terrible of a ratio for how wide I cast the net, but 3 of those were the “Dragons” who were leading the war. They are the most important roles and needed for the scenario to work. At least for a while. Once the 3rd dragon dropped I was forced to call a break. It is likely most of this is due to the style of orders, which I have fixed and will detail further on.
Player Expectations - To put it bluntly, many players were completely unwilling to engage in conflicts with other players. Some of this was due to jumping in the deep end rather than easing them in, some of it due to how wide a net of players I spread, and a lot of it because I was allowing people who had never played in my campaign let alone a TSR era D&D or even a wargame. But, despite calling it “The Dragon Wars of Sav’Mon” several time there were people that didn’t even realize this was a 5 Way civil war. I am hoping the inclusion of a new “Soul Gem” item will help to alleviate some apprehension about fighting other players. In the next section I will try to lay out how we are going to play as best as I can.
The State of The Duchy
Around seven months ago in game, on the last day of a year long winter, all of the major domain rulers found a letter. Inside, it told of how five dragons are vying to ascend to godhood in a ritual that requires the marking of territory. These Dragon have the ability to prevent the death of powerful figures in exchange for control of their soul. They are not evil by default, but will use these agents to enact their war with the other Dragons. They refer to these agents as Exarchs and the chief among them as their Primarch.
Sav’Mon is a small territory almost the size of New Hampshire. Thirty years ago the current Duke Horace lead a party to slay the mighty dragon that ruled over theDuchy, Vermithrax Pejorative, and his father, Laous led a rebellion against the empire and won their independence. The throne passed to Horace’s brother Betrand until 5 years ago he was murdered, and backed by the Counts of the North and South Horace took the throne over his nephew, Eilonge.
It has been discovered that Betrand learned the truth, The Five local Dragons who rose during the power vacuum were given an ultimatum by the ruler of the Empire: Reduce their number to just one with which the Empress may negotiate, or they shall invade and reclaim the Duchy. There are now only 7 in game years left until the next long winter. (~3 Real life years). For reference the Empire is to Sav’Mon as the rest of the USA is to New Hampshire. Their capital alone can muster many times more than all of Sav’Mon. The rulers have learned of this and realize they must participate in the Dragon’s Game or it will be the end of Sav’Mon.
How to Play the Great Game
I have given brief and vague overviews, but now it is time to get more concrete. What is it we are actually going to be doing? Let’s get into it.
Firstly, everything will be run on the Ghost Planet Games Discord server, so if you are not a member and want in make sure to message me for an invite. Participants will be running one of the many factions of Sav’Mon, mostly domain rulers. In order to participate you will need to read through the brief summaries of each faction below and message me with the 2 you are most interested in. Some are already taken and will be noted. What to expect:
I will give you a PDF of your faction’s “Asset Sheet” a write up of what they have access to, a description, income, and their starting goals.
I will send you links to 2 Google Docs with the details of your factions domains. One will be a public sheet everyone can see, with details any spy could find out in 1 day. Populations, troops count, fortifications, construction projects, etc. The other will be where you are able to keep try of anything that is secret and would need an actual spy mission to uncover.
You will be able to freely update these as long as you remember to track how long construction and the like takes, and that for every 1 week in real life, one week in the game will pass. The new week begins every Monday Morning.
Each player will receive a private Discord Channel where they will be able to submit orders. They may submit 1 order/ week and I adjudicate them as I get to them in the order they were submitted. (This means that if you wait until Sunday night at the end of the week to submit the order it is almost guaranteed I wont get to it until the next week. It does not take effect until I have adjudicated it.)
You will only give me orders for 3 things
Warfare - Movement of troops, Marking of Foundation stones.
Spycraft - Spy Missions, Scout Locations, Assassinations.
Posting Quests - To approve for the weekly sessions.
You will freely message the other players via DMs on discord with a resolution mechanic given to handle 1v1 conflict.
Players will continue to play as normal adventurers on Thursdays and Sundays with additional sessions available if planned a week ahead of time.
Before we get started I am going to try to gather all of the rules the domain players need in one PDF. This will include the rules for The Great Game, Ghost Planet Diceless, Spycraft, Warfare, Domain Management, Prices, etc.
Braunstein
On May 10th at ~7pm EST I will be running a session Braunstein live via Voice Chat on Discord to kick everything off. You may participate in the Braunstein even if you are not going to be doing the play by post game. I will have something for you. All are welcome including members of Living Urf Gaming Club, and BroXT members.
If we are unable to make at least this Braunstein happen there is a better than not chance Atlas will shrug, and I will not only cancel the Play By Post, but the campaign as a whole. I need at least seven of you so don’t give me your excuses, make it happen.
The Factions of Sav’Mon
Tier 1 - The Dragons
These are the five players of the Great Game. Adult Dragons who are the cause of everything. They cannot leave their lairs and maintain control of more than one exarch so they use these agents like pieces on a board to achieve their goals. Your role is the most important one. Recruit other Factions to your side to defeat the other Dragons. The rules for how to do so will be included in “The Great Game”.
All dragon roles must be filled before the game can start.
Gothalax
Taken
Black Dragon
Inspiration: Pete Holme’s Badman + Metal Band
Exarch Theme: The Bat Family
Primarch: Tutuyaq “Night Boar” - Saurian Hunter 10
Description: Gothalax thinks he is the coolest and best. No one is better than him. You want a Batjet, he is the bat jet! Whatever you are doing is lamer than anything he is doing, and your exarchs suck. He has the best exarchs.
Fafnir
Taken
Green Wyrm
Inspiration: Big Green Bastard + Tony Soprano
Exarch Theme: Trailer Park Boys
Primarch: “Operation Midnight” - Thief 14
Description: Fafnir is a real son of a gun to his enemies, but a giving friend to his allies. He is overweight, and is bullied by the other dragons for not having wings. Commands a tribe of Mountain Giants. His catchphrase is “Get in my bellay!”
Brauntide
Taken
Gold Wyvern
Inspiration: King Ghidorah + CLAW + Gilbert Godfried + PeeWee
Exarch Theme: Comedy Stars + Clint Eastwood
Primarch: Flint Westhill - Warrior 9
Description: Rather cunning when the prime head is in charge,Brauntides plans sometimes surprise even himself. His exarchs are supported by a Giant Fighting Robot, and Kaiju.
Herensuge
Taken
Red Dragon
Inspiration: Miss Piggy + Dragon from Shrek
Exarch Theme: Cartoon Characters
Primarch: Walvest Embent - Warrior 12
Description: Rumored to be the daughter of the Empires Dragon, Herensuge has been seen commanding Fire Giants. Herensuge is decisive and not afraid to take action. Some say she can even shape shift.
Uroloki
Taken
White Dragon
Inspiration: Tim Allen + Puss in Boots
Exarch Theme: Rankin & Bass Xmas Movies
Primarch: Rudok of the Glacial Rift - Kurg 10
Description: Living high to the north somewhere in the snowy peaks, Uroloki commands a tribe of Frost giants. He is said to be aligned with the old seasonal gods of Sav’Mon, and capably of changing his size.
Tier 2 - Heads of State
These are the major Domain Rulers, while the game can work with just the Dragons, including these will create the most enjoyment. These roles must be filled before someone takes a Tier 3 that isn’t their own character.
Duke Horace Monsat
Open
Warrior 12
Location: DuMonsat
Inspiration: Robert Baratheon if he had married Lyanna Stark
Description: An accomplished warrior, but struggling statesmen, banished his nephew Prince Eilonge and took the throne ~5 years ago. Adventuring buddies with Count Yvers, and the former Count Umathes (Turned Vampire). Magic Sword, Magic Armor. Worships the Trinity.
Count Yvers of the North
Taken
Warden 11
Location: Krakhal
Inspiration: Original
Description: Quite paranoid and a recluse. Lives high in his mountain castle, Krakhal. Magic Bow. Married to the one of the DuVorde sisters, and brother in law to the recently deceased Ruler of Beauxmont. He has a regent in place until the heir, Garth Colhard can be found.
Count Stephan “Granite Faced” Gassett of the South
Taken
Warrior 9
Location: Brakedosh
Inspiration: Stone Cold Steve Austin
Description: General of the Army of Sav’Mon, his port city of Brakedosh is the only human shipyard capable of making Warships. It has become known that he is an Exarch of Brauntide. He died defending former Duke Betrand, but has lost memory of the event.
Cardinal Cappelli
Taken
Chaplain 11
Location: DuMonsat
Inspiration: Jean Claude Frollo + Elon Musk
Description: Head of the Church of the Trinity in Sav’Mon. Capitalizing business man who has leveraged the income from tithes to create trade routes, communication networks, and expand the outreach of the Trinity. There is a minor internal dispute with the High Herald, but as the military branch of the church the Heralds can not stand atop leadership, and so they still work in concert.
King Howlin Magroym
Taken
Dwarf 9
Location: Khig Duar
Inspiration: Original
Description: Gruff and tough, he is haunted by the spirit of his ancestor the first Dwarf King of Sav’Mon. He splits the rulership of the two Khigs (Dwarven Mountain Fortress Cities) with his twin Gramb Magroym. The dwarves are slavers and have remained neutral before now, but it is believed they have taken a side in the Dragon Wars.
King Gan'Nel’Ahk of House Fessug
Open
Tovlin 6
Location: Kev’lek
Inspiration: Jon Hamm as a Samurai
Description: Banner Lord of House Fessugh, Admiral of the Blin navy, ruler of Kev’lek and all Blin. Posses a magic sword and is a shrewd tactician.
Princess Adorned-by-Petals
Open
Elf 10
Location: Cara Laure
Inspiration: Original
Description: Born before the last apocalypse she has ruled for over a thousand years. She bears a magic spear, wyvern riders, and is rumored to control a dragon. As elves and gnomes are the only natural spellcasters in Sav’Mon she is devastatingly powerful, fortunately the elves are small in number and remain neutral as they are not able to become exarch due to being of the same level of divinity as the Dragons.
Tier 3 - Contending Rulers
If all Tier 2 Factions are filled these are the remaining local rulers who may be played as Factions. They do not have the same level of power as Tier 2, but still exert a considerable amount of influence.
Marquess Hortencia Malevol-Monsat
Taken
Sorceress ?
Location: Savoy
Inspiration: Circei Lanister
Description: The widow of Former Duke Betrand and mother to Eilonge Monsat. She has taken control of Savoy within the past few months after the assassination of her brother Mikhail. Her Grandfather Aristedes the Ancient controls the Castle Xyntillan and are the oldest family in Sav’mon.
Baron Yulius Benedict
Open
Warrior 9
Location: DuVorde
Inspiration: Arnold Schwarzenegger from Twins + Conan + Nationalist
Description: Leader of an elite adventuring party who rebuilt the destroyed town of DuVorde. Has instituted several social reforms, and mandatory temporary service. Has a magic sword and a giantess wife.
“Rebel Prince” Eilonge Monsat
Taken
Warrior 6
Location: Unknown
Inspiration: If Jon Snow + Joffrey
Description: Banished from the capital for trying to overthrow his uncle he resides somewhere north of the wall gathering forces. He has become somewhat of a peoples champion, and leader of the disenfranchised. Magic Armor. He believes himself to be the rightful heir to the throne. The Warlord on the Wall, Raul Van Der Becke is his bastard older brother.
Baron Omaha Robinson
Taken
Thief 6
Location: Hamlet of MacBeth/ Big Run
Inspiration: Obama + Indiana Jones + Knight’s Tale
Description: A PC who has earned his own domain of MacBeth made up of the surviving Rusty Mountain Bandits. He earned title through Jousting Tournaments and when Big Run needed a ruler he was chosen.
Thane Germain DuCain
Taken
Sage 6
Location: Ducainopolis aka Domain DuCain
Inspiration: Original (Uncle Iroh Buff)
Description: A PC who killed the River God, fought the vampire Count Umathes, stole his walking tower, and built his own domain. It is rumored he is married to an imperial prismatist, has a drakkon mount, has a mechanical centaur guard, and employs a djinn.
Lord Tearlach Goossens
Taken
Sage 7
Location: Eure
Inspiration: Original
Description: Brooding, abrasive, short tempered. He is a descendant of the Politon family who has ruled the southern coast for several generations. It is rumored they can control a local sea god, and summon a storm giant. He always seems to be around when the politics get sticky.
Lord Yaron Vess
Taken
Jack 9
Location: Dross Cross
Inspiration: Mostly Original little bit Brad Pitt
Description: A faithful servant of the old gods Yaron Vess runs Dross Crossing and the mile long canal that allows travel between Cloud Lake and the ocean. Rumors say he has some connection with the Lords of Fairy who place the Veil up Sav’Mon back during the war 400 years ago.
Backup Factions
These are only for if I get way more interest than expected or Faction Leaders die and they player wants a replacement
This is already too long. The PDF with the Rules and your Asset Sheets will do the bulk of the lifting. Not all of these characters are set in stone and we can work together for you to add your own spin. Please message me with the Factions you would like to play (you will only actually play 1), and try to attend the live Braunstein via Voice Chat on Discord May 10th ~7pm EST.
Read a book, hit the gym, have a great week.
~Jake
Nice accompanying soundtrack. So it begins again, looking forward to seeing how this plays out. Thanks for taking the time to lay this out